Electrical ignition apparatus.



J. A. TORRENS.

ELECTRICAL IGNITION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17, 1907.

908,906. Patented Jan. 5,- 1909.

INVENTOR WITNESS! v JOHN ARTHUR 'lORItl'flNS, OF SOMERSET, COLERAINE, IRELAND.

n'mcrmclu. renrrron arrana'rus.

Specification of Letters Patent. application filed September 1"], 1907. Serial No. 393,3;3.

To all whom it may concern: I v

ARTHUR Ton- Be it known that I, JOHN RENS, a subject of the King of Great Britain,

residing at Somerset, Coleralne, in'the county of Londonderry, Ireland, major, late of Scots Greys, have invented certain new and useful lmproved Electrical Ignition Apparatus, of which the following is a specification;

This invention consists in an improved electrical ignition apparatus which is designed particularly for internal combustion engines but may be applied to other purposes.

The improved apparatus is of the low tension type in which the spark is roduced at The elctro-magnet c the electrodes by breaking at t at oint a circuit of very considerable self in uction which has been momentarily closed by any suitable means actuated by the engine -so as to energize an electromagnet, the resultant movement of the armature ofwhich is caused to deflect or displace a movable electrode included in the circuit from contact with a fixed electrode and thereby produce a spark at the gap.

The improved construction of such apparatus which constitutes the resent invention is illustrated in elevation in Figure 1 and in longitudinal section in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings, Figs. 3 and 4 being detail views respectively of the preferred terminalconnection and the end of the movable electrode.

Astherein shown the movable electrode a is not connected positively withthe magnet armature and consequently the contact pressure of the spark electrodes a, b is not diminished by reason of the attraction of the magnet before contact is actually broken, and consequently the so-called extra current on breaking the circuit is nae thereby reduced s is of the closed ironclad or concentriccylinder pattern with the armature d forming a lid, a construction which, with the tubular extension of the inner c linderc of the electromagnet and the tubu ar shell of the plug e allows the workin parts to be practically entirely inclosed an consequentl protected from accession of dirt and fai ures resulting therefrom. v

The'armature d is secured on a non-magnetic plunger f working ractically dusttight in the central bore 0' the magnet and normally urged by a. spring f into a position Patented. Jen. 0,1009,

in which a striking rod 9 carried by the plunger is clear of the cooperating surface of the movable electrode a; The striking rod g is preferably of steel case hardened atits inner end and extends axially through the plu er fwhich is hollow and inwhich it is secure so as to be adjustable longitudinally therein, as by means of the screwed bush 9 and locknut 9 a The movable electrode with which the striker cooperates is fulcrumed within a nonmagnetic tubular extension h of the inner c linderof the ma et, which pro'ects into t e tubular body 0 the sparking p ug e but is insulated therefrom by a sleeve e of suitable material which is locked in osition within the internally screw threaded ody of the sparking plug by means of an externally screw threaded sleeve or bush 2 fitting therein. The electrode fulcrum is preferably 'censtitu'ted b a ball and socket joint'or bearing 7i,

itself therewith b means of a coil spring c' which encircles t e outer art of the electrode and is compressed etween a. fixed abutment i and avsliding sleeve 7', thereon which sleeve is thereby urgpd against a'fixed cooperating abutment sue as the rear face h of the fulcrum socket 72/ so as to tend to turn the electrode upon its fulcrum into alinement with the striking rod thereby maintaining a considerable pressure on the contact surfaces of the movable and fixed electrodes. rated by the movable electrode being turned These contact surfaces are sepaupon its fulcrum against the action of the returning spring, this displacement causing thesliding abutment to be thrust along the electrode thereby compressing the spring still more.

The electrode is displaced to separate the contacts by the blow of the inner end of the striking rod g upon a suitable inclined surface on the outer end of the electrode, and this inclined surface is preferably constituted by the bottom of a radial oove jformed in-e crown piece 7' detaclia ly secured to the outer "end of the movable electrode There are usually provided a pluralit .of such redial grooves 7" equally space around the facility.

Y relation with the movable electrode.

axis of the electrode in correspondence with an equal number of platinum contact studs a similarlys aced around the detachable inner end (1 =0 the movable electrode preferably on a spiral line, such studs cooperating with an elongated platinum strip or anvil b on the fixed electrode} which is detachably secured within the sparking plug in proper arrangement enables a fresh pair of sparking cont-acts to be brought into use with great he magnet is arranged to be. detachable from the plug part of the device by simply easing a clamping screw k by which the inner cylinder 0 is secured to the tube It, or freeing said hollow plug; substantially as described;

a bayonet joint uniting thetwo parts, so that access may be obtained to the movable electrode either for sliding it to and fro slightly versely wit non-magnetic to v eration.

the direction of its axis soas to clean the plati num contacts by rubbing them together or for giving .the electrode a partial turn so as to bring a new pairof contact surfaces into 0 Rotation of the movable electro e while in use is prevented by the end of the striking rod never. being Withdrawn quite clear of the slot or groove y" in the crown piece 7' with which it is cooperating for the time being. 4

The-detachability ofthe magnet part from the. plug part of the device also enables thelapparatus to be inserted for example throughl a hole in the water-jacket and screwed into the cylinder by means of a box spanner applied over a suitably formed part e? of the body of the plug. Q

The insulated end' of the magnet coil Zis secured between a clamping plate m'and-a terminal'block n which is attached to but} insulated from the magnet, and has a conical; socket n for the reception of the spring ends 0 of a split pin in the eye 0 of which the flexi-f ble connecting lead has been secured by stripping the insulation. from the end,'doubling the free ends of the conductor strands on l cramping the latter to grip thelead tightly.

Having thus described the nature of this invention and the best means I know of;- carrying the same into practical eflect, I} claim l 1. An electrical ignition apparatus ofithe; low tension type comprising a tubular magnet, an'armature carrying a striking rod extending through the bore of said magnet, a hollow sparking plug having a fixed elecf trode, anda movable electrode actuated by the striking rod and extending longitudinally throu hand fulcrumed to move trans- I said hollowplug; substantially as described.

2. An electrical ignition-apparatus of low tension type comprising a tu ular magnet, a

ular extens1on,..an arma- This I not, an armature carrying a striking rod a movable electrode actuated by the striking rod and extending longitudinally through and fulcrumed to move transversely Within said hollow plug; substantially as described.

3. An electrical ignition apparatus of the low tension type comprising a tubular ma justably secured thereto and extending through the bore of said ma net, a hollow sparking plug having a'fixed e ectrode, and a movable electrode actuated by the striking rod and extending longitudinally I through and fulcrumed to move transversely within through the lug and having a fulcrum comprising a bal and socket joint adapted to prevent the leakage of the working fiuid, said movable electrode adapted to move transversely within said hollow plug; substantially as desribed;

5. In an. elec rical ignition apparatus of the character described, a movable fulcrumed electrode having a plurality of contact studs and adapted to be rotated to bring any desired stud into the. operative position, meansnormally operative t0,.pre-' vent rotation of said electrode and means permitting the. displacement of the aforesaid means and thetrotation "of said electrode; 7

substantially as; described.

6. In the apparatus of the character here" in described a strikin rod and amovable electrode having a muItiple contact piece at one end, and a plurality of radial grooves at the other end adapted to 006 crate withfthe striking rod to deflect the e ectrode, While preventing rotation thereof; substantially as described.

7. In the apparatus of the character herein referred to, a tubular magnet, an armature carrying a striking rod a movable eleci trode actuated by, and inclined slightly axially with respect to the striking rod, and a returning s ring encircling the rear part of the body of t e electrode and compressed between a fixed abutment on the electrode and a slidable abutment thereon; substantially as described.

Intestim'ony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribi witnesses.

JO N ARTHUR TORRENS. f

' Witnesses:

SAMUEL CUNNINGHAM, James ODormnrv. 

